A COMMUNITY was in shock today after the loss of three young children in a fierce house fire.

Fire fighters were called to the terraced house at Boothroyden, on Blackpool North Shore, after neighbours spotted the blaze, at about 4.30am yesterday.

Before they arrived, three male neighbours found a ladder and helped two girls and a boy escape from the upstairs bedroom.

But despite their efforts and those of the fire brigade, three boys died - Calum, aged four, Arnie, aged five and Gage, aged eight. They were trapped in a back bedroom and perished together.

Police yesterday named the nine members of the family, confirming the parents as Ernest Lumb, 34, and wife Paula, 33.

The four surviving children, Ryan, 15, Kylie, 13, Shannon, six and Colt, thought to be aged two or three, were taken with their parents to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

The family's pet dog also died in the fire, which gutted the house.